Review by John Delia
There’s always a good size audience for an inspirational film and McFarland USA has all the trappings of one of the best. The film features a very good cast lead by Kevin Costner and aptly directed by Niki Caro. Now on Blu-ray and DVD, the film is made for family audiences. This underdog story is based on true events in the small town of McFarland, California.
Following an incident regarding an altercation in the locker room of a Midwest High School, Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) gets asked to leave his job. Not being able to find another job he takes an offer from McFarland, CA. just north of Los Angeles where the population is mostly Mexican. He starts as a science teacher and an assistant football coach.
During a game he sees a player take a bad hit and helps him to the bench. The head coach tells White to put the kid back in the game, but he refuses. In a meeting with the principal, White gets a lecture and a warning that he will lose his position as coach. When he see that an allocation in the school budget calls for a track team, he gets the principal to appoint him head of track.
The inspiration story shows the toil of putting together a track team at a school that has never had the sport. White himself has had no training in the activity nor coached anything like it. Through the raw desire to show he can meet the challenge he barley fields a team. Director Niki Caro who gave us North Country and Whale Rider helms this well written film bringing it to the screen with passion showing the pride of the small town that wants to show America they exist.
Costner gives a fabulous performance as the family man that will go to no ends to make McFarland a winner. He has an uphill battle going against the families of his team who are pickers that make a living bringing in crops. They depend on their children to work in the fields, yet White convinces them that he is doing the right thing for them. Costner has made many films, and this one should be in his top ten best.
BONUS FEATURES:
There are several bonus features on the Blu-ray disc and include:
“McFarland Reflections†featuring Kevin Costner and the real Coach Jim White. You also get to meet the 1987 cross country team.
“Juntos†a music video
“Inspiring McFarlandâ€
“Deleted Scenesâ€
“Extended Scenesâ€
McFarland USAÂ has been rated PG by the MPAA for thematic material, some violence and Language. The film is a true story and has clips of the real Jim White during the credits.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A wonderful film for the whole family (B)
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Ramiro Rodriguez
Director: Niki Caro
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material, some violence and Language.
Genre: Drama, Sports, Inspirational
Running Time: 2 hrs. 9 min.
Original Theatrical Release Date: February 20, 2015
Video Release Date: June 2, 2015
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray (also available in DVD)
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Video: Widescreen Aspect Ratio 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Number of Discs: 1 Disc
Distributed by: Buena Vista Home Entertainment